Sander for locomotive valves



@et l0, 1944,

E. R. HAUER ET AL "SANDER FOR LocoMoTIvE VALVES Fild March 23, 1942 Patented Oct. l0, 1944 SANDER FOR LOCOMOTIVE VALVES Edward R. Hauer, Lakewood, Chio, and Edwin L. Cull, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Viloco Railway Equipment Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 23, 1942, Serial No. 435,874

4 Claims.

The invention relates to sanding apparatus for locomotives.

Sander-traps used on locomotives are usually provided with a nozzle for discharging sand for delivering it to the track adjacent the driving Wheels of the locomotive, and also with an orifice or nozzle for delivering a short blast of air for clearing the delivery pipe, as a part of each sanding operation. The air to the sander-traps is usually controlled by an operators valve which vis provided With a handle which can be set to control air both for the clean-out blast and the sand-trap. Usually the valve is adapted to control the clean-out blast when set in an intermediate position and by a continuing movement of the handle to a third position, to deliver air to the sand-discharge nozzle. In this practice, the engineer may manually hold the handle in its intermediate position for the desired short period necessary for the clean-out blast, and.

then shift the handle to its position for delivering air to the sand-discharge nozzle, Where it is left until the sanding desired has been completed. In practice it has been found that the engineer at times will overlook the shift of the handle from clean-out to sanding position, which will result in an unnecessarily prolonged clean-out blast. In locomotive practice it is of great importance to conserve the air used for sanding because it is derived from a reservoir from which air is also used for the air-brake system of the train. If the clean-out blast is prolonged beyond the short period necessary, the discharge of air may reduce greatly the main reservoir pressure and bleed the train line of the entire train, which results in delays in restoring the air-brake system to operative condition. The prolonged cleanout blast may also tend to excessively discharge sand from the trap. It is desirable in present practice to conserve the sand supply for long runs of the locomotive.

One object of the invention is to provide sanding apparatus with time-controlled means for limiting the duration of the clean-out blast independently of the operators valve so that in the event the engineer should fail to shift the valve handle from its clean-out position to the sanding position, the clean-out blast will be interrupted for the purpose of conserving the air supply.

Another object' of the invention is to provide improved sanding mechanism for locomotives whereby only a blast of predetermined duration will be delivered by the clean-out nozzles.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing excessive use of air in sanding apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly described in the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic View of sanding ap'- paratus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the timing valve for controlling the duration of the clean-out blasts.

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section of the reservoir for air which is used to close the timing valve.

Fig. 4 is a view of the operators valve for controlling the sanding apparatus, the handle and head of the casing being removed.

Fig. 5 is a section of the sand-trap.

The invention is exemplied as used on a locomotive c which is provided with a series oi sander-traps b to which sand is supplied by pipes c, respectively, and pipes d for delivering the sand discharged from one of the traps to the rail adjacent one of the drivers of the locomotive. Each trap b is provided with a suitable nozzle e for delivering air under pressure into its trap chamber for discharging sand, and an orice f which functions as a nozzle for a cleanout blast across one end of the trap chamber and into a delivery pipe d. The trap may be of any suitable construction as Well understood in the art.

An operators valve g, located in the cab of the locomotive, comprises a casing g1 Which is adapted to receive a supply of air from pipe g2 which is connected to the main air reservoir on the locomotive. A handle or lever g4 is adapted to rotate a valve disk g5 to three positions for selectively cutting 01T the supply of air to the sandtraps, delivering blasts to the clean-out nozzles, and delivering air to the sand-delivering nozzles. Valve disk g5 is provided With a pair of ports gs. The valve-seat in casing g1 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite cross-connected ports grl which communicate With a port to which a pipe I0 is connected for the delivery of air to the clean-out nozzles. Casing g1 is also provided with a port Q9 which is adapted to receive air through one of the ports g6 in disk g5. Port Q19 is connected to a pipe Il for the delivery of air to the sand-delivery nozzles e in the traps. Pipe I I may be connected by branches to the traps on both sides of the locomotive. The handle g4 is movable from a normal position in which the supmay be connected by a branch to the sand-trapsv on both sides of the locomotive. Pipe II is connected by suitable branch pipes to the sanddelivery nozzles e in the traps b.

A timing valve I4 is included in the pipe I0( for controlling the flow of air from the valve g to the clean-out nozzles f inthe traps. Valve I4 comprises a body I5 having an inlet cavity I6 to which the pipe I0 leading from valve gris connected, and an `outlet cavity I1 from which the pipe IU leads to the clean-out nozzles f. A valve-member I8 is slidably mounted in the casing I and is adapted to close against a seat I9 between cavities I and I'I. A lower piston 23 cn member I8 is slidable in a portion of the cylinder formed in the casing I5 and an upper piston 24 is slidable in the upper casing section 22. A diaphragm 2| is clamped between casing sections I5 and 22 and is held between pistons 23 and 24 to form a fluid tight joint between said casing sections. A nut 26 threaded to the stem I8a of member I8 clacmps the inner portion of diaphragm 2i between pistons'23 and 24. A shoulder 25 is engaged b-y piston 24 to limit the movement of the valve-member I8 away from its seat. Y A spring 27 between nut 25 and the upper portion of casing section 22 holds the valve member normally against its seat I 9. A reservoir 3i] is adapted to retain a predetermined volume of air under pressure corresponding to that deemed necessaryV for the clean-out blasts. This reservoir is closed and is connected by a pipe 3| to the upper end of casing section 22. A chamber 32 in casing section 22 has'an opening 33 leading to a pipe 3l. The stem I 8a of valve-member I8 is provided with a duct 34, the lower end of which connects with orifice 35 which extends through the closure I8 and connects with cross orifice 36 in the closure member which communicates with the inlet cavity I6 inthe casing I5. Reservoir 33 is closed and provided with a plug 33a for access to its interior. The reservoir 30 is usually secured by bolts 40 in a convenient location in the locomotive cab.

The operation of the apparatus will be as follows: Normally handle g4 of the operators valve g will be positioned to close the ports in the casing g1 leading to the pipes Ill and II so that the traps will be inoperative. In initiating a sanding operation the engineer Will rst shift handle g4 to the intermediate of its three positions. The ports Q6 in disk g5 will then deliver air and establish communication through ports g7 to the pipe I ii which is connected to the timing valve I4. Air under pressure will ow into inlet cavity i6 of valveV i4 and acting on the piston 23 will lift' valve-member I8 against the force of spring 21. Air will then flow from the inlet cavity I6 to the outlet cavity I? and thence to the clean-out nozzles. This will occur in the event that the engineer permits the handle g4 to remain in its intermediate position for supplying air to the clean-out nozzles, and times and limits clean-out blasts. If the engineer does not delay shift of the handle g4 to its third position, valve disk g5 will admit air from casing g1 through pori; gg to pipe I I, for the operation of the sand-discharge nozzles as long as desired, and as the valve disk g5 is shifted to the third position the supply of air to pipe I 0 and timing valve I4 Will be cut off. The air in reservoir 3U and the pipe Il) will then leak through ports 35, 36, the pipe I0, and the clean-out nozzles to atmosphere, so the timing valve I4 will close in readiness for a succeeding sanding operation. If during the return movement of the handle g4 to its normal position the engineer should stop it at its intermediate position, the timing valve I4 will operate in like manner as before described to cut 01T the supply of air from the operating valve to the clean-out nozzles. When operators valve y is closed after 4the completion of the sanding operation, air from reservoir 3D, if it has been filled, and. from the portion of the pipe IIi between valves I4 and g, will escape through ports 34 and 35 while the valve-member I8 is closed, at a small rate to the clean-out nozzles. The ports 36 and 35 are so small that if the air thereto is not cut off at valve g, the leakage of air from inlet cavity I6, while valve I4 is closed will be insignificant.

The invention exemplifies sanding apparatus in which clean-out blasts are used for clearing the sand-delivery traps and air for discharging the sand from the traps is used, a device Vincluded for timing or limiting the clean-out blast when the engineer fails to do so. The air reservoir having a limited capacity serves as simple means for timing the valve and limiting the duration of the clean-out blasts.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the-invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we regard as new and desire to claim by Letters Patent is:

l. In sanding apparatus for locomotives the combination with a sand trap provided with a clean-out nozzle for clearing the sand delivery pipe and an air nozzle for discharging sand from the trap, an operators valve and pipe connections for separately conducting air from the Voperators valve to the clean-out nozzle and to to the clean-out nozzles through pipe IU and branches I2. Air in restricted volume will flow through the cross port 35, ports 35 and 34 and Vthrough pipe 3l t0 the reservoir 30. As soon as suiiicient pressure is built up in reservoir 30 to act with the force of spring 2l on the upper piston 24 and to overcome the air pressure against the under side of piston 23,-member I8 will be shifted to its seat I9 and cut 01T the blast the sand discharge nozzle, said valve being provided with means for manually and successively controlling the separate delivery of air to the pipe connection for the clean-out blast and air to the sand discharge connection for a sanding operation, and for controlling air to the pipe connection for the clean-out blast when the valve is shifted from sanding to its closed position, of an automatic time-controlled valve for air included in the pipe connection leading to the clean-out nozzle connection, for cutting off the clean-out blasts at the end of a predetermined period during the shift of the control means from closed to sanding position and from sand'- ing position to closed position, said valve being provided with a restricted passage for air to the remains open when combination with a sand trap provided with a clean-out nozzle for clearing the sand delivery pipe and an air nozzle for discharging sand from the trap, an operators valve and pipe connections for separately conducting air from the operators valve to the clean-out nozzle and to the sand discharge nozzle, said valve being provided with means for manually and successively controlling the separate delivery of air to the pipe connection for the clean-out blast and air to the sand discharge connection for a sanding operation, of automatic time-controlled means for cutting off the clean-out blasts at the end of a predetermined period comprising a valve provided with a casing included in the pipe connection between the operators valve and the clean-out nozzle and a reservoir for air separate from the valve casing and connected to receive air from the pipe-connection for the clean-out nozzle said valve being provided with a restricted passage for air to the clean-out nozzle from the reservoir which remains open when said latter valve is closed.

3. In sanding apparatus Ifor locomotives the combination with a sand trap provided with a clean-out nozzle for clearing the sand delivery pipe and an air nozzle for discharging sand from the trap, an operators valve and pipe connections for separately conducting air from the operators valve to the clean-out nozzle and to the sand discharge nozzle, said valve being provided with means for manually and successively controlling the separate delivery of air to the pipe connections for a. sanding operation, of automatic time-controlled means for cutting off the clean-out blasts at the end of a predetermined period comprising a valve provided with a casing included in the pipe connection between the operators valve and the clean-out nozzle and a reservoir for air separate from the valve casing and connected to receive air from the pipe-connection for the clean-out nozzle, said valve being provided with means for discharging accumulated air from the reservoir into the pipe-connection for and to the clean-out nozzle when said latter valve is closed.

4. In sanding apparatus -for locomotives the combination with a plurality of sand traps, each having a sand delivery pipe connected thereto and provided with a clean-out nozzle for clearing the sand delivery pipe and an air nozzle for discharging sand from the trap to the delivery pipe, an operators valve, a pipe for separately conducting air from the operators valve connected to deliver air to the yclean-out nozzles in the plurality of traps, a pipe for separately conducting air from the operators valve to the sand discharge nozzles, said valve being provided with means for manually and successively controlling the separate delivery of air to said pipes, and means comprising a reservoir and a single timecontrolled valve included in the pipe for delivering air to the clean-out nozzles for cutting o the clean-out blasts to the plurality of traps at the end of a predetermined period, said latter valve being provided with a passage lfor discharging accumulated air from the reservoir into the pipe connection for and to the yclean-out nozzle when said latter valve is closed and with a port for delivering air to the reservoir from the operators valve while air is flowing to the cleanout nozzles.

EDWARD R. HAUER. EDWIN L. CULI. 

